Guide for Authors

The authors are invited to submit their manuscripts using the journal online manuscript submission system (HERE) and the review website. The authors are provided with a paper template, which is downloadable HERE. Authors are encouraged to use and edit the template, rather than developing their own file.

Before You Start

Author Responsibilities

By submitting a manuscript to IJBS, authors confirm that:

  • The manuscript is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.
  • All authors have contributed significantly to the work.
  • Any conflicts of interest are disclosed.
  • Proper ethical approval has been obtained (if applicable).
  • The work adheres to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)
  • The manuscript has passed a plagiarism check using Turnitin, with a maximum similarity index of 20%.
  • Manuscripts with an AI similarity score above 30% will be flagged for editorial review. Authors may be requested to provide clarification or revise their manuscript to ensure academic integrity and authenticity

Manuscript Types

IJBS accepts three types of manuscripts: full research articles, review articles, and case studies, all contributing to business sustainability research and practice.

Full Research Articles

Full research articles present original empirical or theoretical research that advances knowledge in business sustainability. They should include a clear research problem, objectives, methodology, findings, and implications. Manuscripts should be 3,000–8,000 words, excluding abstract, tables, figures, and references, with a minimum of 30 references.

Review Articles

Review articles provide a critical analysis of existing literature, identifying research gaps and proposing future directions. Systematic literature reviews, bibliometric analyses, and meta-analyses are encouraged. Manuscripts should be 3,000–8,000 words, excluding abstract, tables, figures, and references, with at least 40 references.

Case Studies

Case studies offer practical insights into real-world business sustainability practices, analyzing key strategies, challenges, and outcomes. They must be based on credible sources and discuss broader implications. Manuscripts should be 1,500–2,000 words, excluding abstract, tables, and figures, with a minimum of 20 references.

All manuscripts must align with IJBS's aims and scope and adhere to academic and ethical standards. Authors should select the appropriate manuscript type based on their research objectives.

Generative AI Usage Key Principles

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard) in their manuscript preparation. While AI may assist in language refinement, grammar correction, or formatting, it cannot be used to generate original ideas, develop research analyses, or draw conclusions. Additionally, AI-generated content cannot be credited as an author, as authorship requires substantial intellectual contributions. Misuse of AI tools in research, including the fabrication of data or references, is considered unethical and may lead to manuscript rejection. Authors are responsible for ensuring that their work adheres to academic integrity and originality standards.

Research and Publishing Ethics

IJBS upholds the highest ethical standards in research and publishing, following the guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Authors must ensure that their submissions are original, free from plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and duplicate submissions. Any form of data manipulation, falsification, or fabrication is strictly prohibited. If research involves human participants, authors must obtain informed consent and comply with ethical research standards. Proper citation of all referenced work is mandatory, ensuring due credit to previous researchers. Additionally, authors must disclose all sources of funding and any potential conflicts of interest to maintain transparency and integrity in academic publishing. 

Third-Party Copyright Permissions

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reuse copyrighted material, including figures, tables, images, and excerpts from previously published works. If third-party content is used, proper acknowledgment must be given, and permission letters from the copyright holder must be submitted alongside the manuscript. Failure to secure proper copyright permissions may result in the rejection of the manuscript or removal of copyrighted content from the final publication.

Open Access Information

IJBS is a platinum open-access journal, meaning all published articles are freely accessible to researchers, practitioners, and the general public without subscriptions or paywalls. The journal operates under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, allowing authors to retain copyright while permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction of their work, provided proper attribution is given. This model promotes wider dissemination, higher visibility, and greater impact for scholarly research in business sustainability.
 

Prepare Your Submission

Manuscripts submitted to IJBS must adhere to the following formatting guidelines to ensure consistency and readability. The document should be formatted for an A4-sized page with 30 mm margins on the top, left, and right, and a 25 mm bottom margin. The text must be fully justified to maintain a professional and uniform appearance throughout the manuscript.

Submissions should be prepared in Microsoft Word (DOC/DOCX) format using Times New Roman, 12 pt, single-spaced text. The first paragraph following a heading should not be indented, whereas all subsequent paragraphs must be indented by 10 mm to enhance readability and structure.

Manuscripts should follow a single-column layout, and all pages must be numbered sequentially to facilitate the review and editorial process. Authors should ensure the use of standard fonts, with the 'Symbols' font designated for Greek characters. The manuscript should be written in clear, concise, and grammatically sound English, employing an active and direct writing style to enhance clarity and scholarly impact.

Manuscripts should include:

  • Title
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Literature review (if relevant)
  • Methodology
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgments
  • References
  • Appendices

Submit Your Manuscript

Double Check Your Manuscript

Prior to the submission, please ensure the following:

  • Is the manuscript formatted according to IJBS guidelines?
  • Are all authors listed correctly?
  • Is the abstract structured and within 250 words?
  • Are the references formatted in APA (7th Edition)?
  • Have you obtained permission for copyrighted material?
  • Have all conflicts of interest been disclosed?

Submission Process

Manuscripts should be submitted via the IJBS Open Journal System (OJS) [HERE]. Authors will receive an email confirmation upon successful submission.

Post Submission

Review and Decision Process

The International Journal of Business Sustainability (IJBS) follows a double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality and integrity of published research. Each manuscript undergoes an initial editorial screening for scope, formatting, and quality. Submissions meeting these criteria are assigned to at least two independent reviewers, ensuring anonymity for both authors and reviewers.

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on originality, significance, methodology, and clarity, recommending acceptance, minor/major revisions, or rejection. Authors must address reviewer feedback in a detailed response letter when submitting revised manuscripts. The Editor-in-Chief makes final decisions, considering reviewer recommendations and overall contribution. IJBS upholds ethical publishing standards, rejecting submissions with plagiarism or research misconduct. The journal is committed to a timely and constructive review process, ensuring the publication of high-quality research.

If Your Paper is Accepted

Once a manuscript is accepted, authors retain copyright but grant IJBS the right to publish under the CC BY 4.0 license, allowing unrestricted sharing with proper attribution. The manuscript then undergoes copyediting, typesetting, and proofreading to ensure accuracy and consistency. Authors will receive final proofs for review, where only minor corrections are permitted. After approval, the paper is officially published with a DOI assignment, ensuring permanent accessibility and citation.